Aaron Gordon is a defensive 3, at least
Aaron Gordon‘s position has not made itself evident through 50 games. One thing is clear about it though — Gordon is a strong perimeter defender.
Aaron Gordon always seems in the right spot, yet always out of place.
That is the definition of a tweener. He is a player so full of potential and so full of opportunity, it is hard to figure out where best to put him. And it is easy to put his potential ahead of his actual ability.
Much of this critical third season for Gordon has been about where exactly to put this versatile young forward. The Orlando Magic had spent much of the first two years of his career playing him primarily, but not exclusively, as a power forward. It seemed he fit a new mold of 4, able to pop out to the perimeter but still better grounded near the basket. Not to mention athletic enough to defend multiple positions.
After acquiring Serge Ibaka, coach Frank Vogel had different ideas. He made him specifically a small forward, envisioning a different kind of player than before. General manager Rob Hennigan would later call this move a “development opportunity.”
The roster crunch pushing him to the perimeter certainly has had its ups and downs.
The third-year player who was expected to make something of a leap in his role has struggled to find his footing. His offensive numbers have lagged, improving a little bit over his first two injury-plagued years, but still at career-best numbers.
The debate among Magic fans continues about Gordon and whether he truly is a small forward and how the Magic should use him continues.
It remains unclear whether this whole experiment will work.
But there is one facet where the Magic have found success playing at the 3. And it may very well be enough to merit continuing the experiment even into the offseason.
Gordon has shown elite ability defensively. And there is every indication this will continue as he improves his technique and gains experience.
This is a role he relishes immensely.
“When I can play one on one defense and guard my man, I’m a pretty good defender,” Aaron Gordon said after helping hold Rudy Gay to 16 points on 6-for-13 shooting and three turnovers in a win over the Sacramento Kings in November. “The physicality of the game was to my liking.
“I love it,” he added. “It’s a physical game. It’s fun to me.”
Gordon takes his pride on the defensive end. And he has all the physical tools to be a dominant force on that end. And, slowly but surely, the stats to back it up.
And the more he thrives defensively, the harder it is to move him off the perimeter.
The Magic very well may have found their perimeter stopper. Now they just have to stick to keeping him at the 3 to use him there. Or find a way to take advantage of those skills while playing him elsewhere.